Sonego outlasts Cobolli in gripping Metz duel
Amid the electric tension of indoor hard courts, Italy's Lorenzo Sonego turned the tide against fellow countryman Flavio Cobolli, securing a quarterfinal spot at the Moselle Open while emerging talents like Alexander Blockx signal a shifting guard.
On the swift indoor hard courts of the Moselle Open in Metz, Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego overcame countryman and friend Flavio Cobolli in a match that pulsed with rivalry and resolve, claiming a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory to advance to his fourth tour-level quarterfinal of the year.
Friendship strains under third-set pressure
The pair's first ATP Head2Head encounter unfolded with the weight of shared national history, as Cobolli's aggressive inside-out forehands carried him through a dominant opening set, only for Sonego to counter with deeper crosscourt returns that exposed vulnerabilities in the younger player's game. At 30, Sonego channeled memories of his 2022 title run here, adjusting to the low-bouncing surface by flattening his shots to disrupt Cobolli's topspin rhythm, ultimately breaking serve in the 11th game of the decisive third set amid rising crowd anticipation. This triumph marks his second Top 30 win of the season, a mental boost that sets up a clash with Hugo Gaston or Daniel Altmaier in the last eight, where the Frenchmen's varied spins could challenge his newfound consistency on these predictable courts.
Cobolli, the fourth seed, arrived with 31 victories in 2025, including titles in Bucharest and Hamburg, his baseline prowess thriving on clay but demanding quick adaptations indoors. A deep run to the final would have propelled the 23-year-old into the Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings, yet Sonego's tactical one–two punch of serve and down-the-line forehand forced errors when the pressure peaked, delaying that milestone for another campaign. The Metz faithful, caught between loyalties, watched as the Italian duo's bond held firm post-match, even as professional stakes pulled them apart.
Blockx surges with serving dominance
Fresh off an ATP Challenger Tour title, #NextGenATP star Alexander Blockx secured his second tour-level win of the season, defeating Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round through an imposing serving display that dictated the indoor tempo. The 20-year-old Belgian fired 16 aces and saved eight of nine break points, neutralizing Passaro's probing underspin with powerful inside-in approaches that swung momentum after an early setback. Sitting fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, he heads to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF next month, his ascent to No. 100 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings reflecting a blend of raw power and growing poise on fast surfaces.
Blockx's performance absorbed the Metz atmosphere's supportive hum, turning Passaro's slice variations into opportunities for crosscourt winners that built his confidence in longer rallies. Facing Frenchman Clement Tabur next, the young server must vary his patterns to counter potential underspin disruptions, testing if this momentum translates into deeper tournament penetration amid the event's youth-driven energy.
Upsets highlight resilience on slick courts
Australian Aleksandar Vukic embodied the tournament's gritty undercurrents, saving two match points to outlast eighth-seeded Corentin Moutet 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(8), extending his ATP Head2Head lead to 2-0 with clutch tiebreak forehands and deep returns that countered the Frenchman's crafty drop shots and net forays. The marathon effort on the non-slippery hard left Vukic poised for a second-round showdown with Matteo Berrettini, where power exchanges could amplify the survivor's edge forged in those tense final points. Meanwhile, French lucky loser Kyrian Jacquet upset Luca Van Assche 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, his steady baseline grinding elevating under the spotlight to ease qualifying frustrations.
Daniel Altmaier also progressed, dismissing Shanghai finalist Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4 with precise inside-in forehands that capitalized on any post-Masters fatigue, positioning him as a potential quarterfinal obstacle for Sonego. These advances underscore Metz's role in late-season redemption, where adaptive play on indoor hard rewards those who harness mental endurance to navigate tight margins and propel toward year-end goals.
